Gun holsters and other carrying cases



Aug. 30, 1966 K. w. DU BOIS GUN HOLSTERS AND OTHER CARRYING CASES FiledOct. 1, 1964 INVENTOR Kenneth W DuBoiS r L l ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent O 3,269,620 GUN HOLSTERS AND OTHER CARRYING CASES Kenneth W. DuBois, 295 S. Rocky River Drive, Berea, Ohio Filed Oct. 1, 1964, Ser. No.400,769 6 Claims. (Cl. 2242) This invention relates to cases or holstersfor carrying articles such as hand guns and the like on a waist belt orshoulder strap worn by a carrier, in which the article may be carriedeither at a high position close to the body when the case is closed orat a low-slung more accessible position when the case is open. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to leather carrying cases orholsters for articles to be supported from the waist belt or shoulderstrap of a carrier, wherein means is provided for moving the casedownwardly from the supporting belt or strap to -a low-slung positionwhen the case is opened in order to provide better accessibility forremoving or returning the encased article. The invention is particularlyapplicable to holsters for hand guns, either pistols or revolvers, whichare normally carried by police oflicers, military personnel and thelike. Several disadvantages have been inherent in the types of holstersheretofore used. Belt type holsters which are carried on the waist beltsupport the hand gun too high to permit rapid removal when necessary. Onthe other hand, low-slung holsters which are suspended loosely from thewaist provide better access to the hand gun but are carried too looselyand tend to swing uncontrollably on the body of the wearer. Also, it isdii'ficult to drive a vehicle and perform other physical tasks whichrequire the use of both hands, when wearing a low-slung type holster.

The holster of the present invention, however, provides for supportingthe hand gun in two positions. In the carrying position, the holster isattached tightly to the waist belt of the wearer and is, therefore,carried snugly at waist height to provide a convenient secure locationfor the hand gun while performing other physical tasks. When a need foruse of the hand gun is expected, the holster may be opened and moved toa low-slung ready position using only one hand merely by unfastening thecover flap of the holster and pulling the holster downwardly so that theholster is suspended below the waist belt by means of the open coverflap, the open end of which is attached to the belt.

Other embodiments of the invention provide a convenient means forsupporting cases for articles, such as cameras, camera lenses,cigarettes, playing cards, and other personal items which a user maydesire to carry on his waist belt or on a shoulder strap. Here too, thecase permits the article to be carried at a high carrying position or ata low-slung ready position to permit better accessibility to the casefor removing or returning the article. When the article has beenreturned to the lowslung case, the case may be easily returned to itscarrying position using only one hand merely by pulling the cover flapupwardly to position the belt or other fastener near the back of thecase and permit the cover to :be closed across the open end thereof.

These advantages of the present invention are achieved through the useof a strap which overlies the cover flap and which is attached at oneend to the cover flap adjacent the front end of the flap and at theother end to either the back of the case or holster or the rearward endof the cover flap. The strap thus co-operates with the cover flap sothat a belt or other fastener may be passed between the cover flap andthe strap to support the case. When the cover flap is closed, the beltor other fastener of the wearer passes between the cover flap and thestrap adjacent the back of the case. This arrangement provides for thesupporting of the case at a waist high carrying position on the body ofthe wearer. When the cover flap is opened, the case or holster may bepulled downwardly so that the belt or fastener slides upwardly betweenthe cover and the strap until it is positioned between the open coverand the strap adjacent the forward end thereof. In this condition, thecase hangs at a low slung position with the cover open and clear of theopen end of the case, thus permitting easy access with one hand whilethe carrier is climbing, driving a vehicle or performingothersimultaneous tasks.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providean improved carrying case for hand guns and other articles to be carriedat the waist of a wearer wherein the case may be carried at a highcarrying position close to the body or a low-slung position providingbetter accessibility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel carrying case tobe supported on the belt or shoulder harness of the wearer, which may beeasily adjusted to a position providing improved access to articles inthe case, with speed and safety and with no danger of losing thecontents of the case.

Other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art upon reference to the following detaileddescription and drawings in connection with the following specificationwherein like parts are identified by like numerals and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a holster for a hand gunembodying the present invention with the holster shown supported at awaist high carrying position and the cover flap closed across the openend of the case;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken from the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the holster shown in FIGURE 1showing the cover flap of the holster open and the gun carried at alow-slung ready position for better accessibility;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View taken from the line 4-4of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE1.

Referring more particularly .to the drawings, FIGURES 1 through 5 show aholster A formed of leather or other suitable material for carrying ahand gun B. The holster includes a cover flap 1 with an attachment meansembodying the present invention for supporting the holster on the beltor shoulder strap of the wearer.

The holster A has an openended body portion 2 forming a chambercontoured to receive the hand gun B.

Attached to the cover flap 1 is a mounting strap 3 attached at one endto the back of the body portion 2 and at its other end to the front ofthe flap 1. The forward end of the strap 3 has eyes 4 formed thereinadapted to receive buttons 5 attached to the cover flap 1, as best shownin FIGURE 5. This provides a means permitting the strap 3 to shiftrelative to the cover flap 1 when the flap 1 is moved between its openand closed positions.

The holster A is attached to the belt 6 of the wearer by sliding thebelt between the strap 3 and the cover flap 1.

By pulling the cover flap 1 upward and then closing it over the open endof the body portion, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the belt 6 is moved tothe back of the case so that the holster A is supported in a highposition close to the waist of the carrier. A snap 7 is provided on thecover for snapping it to the body portion 2.

When it is desired to carry the holster A at a low-slung ready positionwith the cover opened, the snap 7 is released and the body portion 2pulled downwardly so that the belt 6 slides between the cover flap 1 andthe strap 3 to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. This may, ofcourse, be easily accomplished with one hand without detaching theholster. In this position, the cover fiap 1 is held securely away fromand clear of the gun B in the holster A and the gun B is carried at alow-slung ready position to permit easy removal from the case whendesired.

A retractable spring loaded tension reel 8 carrying a chain or cable 9may be mounted on the bottom of the holster A to permit the holster tobe strapped to the leg of a wearer when carried at the low-slung readyposition. The reel 8 may be of the type sold under the trade designationKey-Bali and sold by the C.T.L. Company of 1710 W. Stewart Ave., Wausau,Wisconsin. A lanyard or thong may, of course, also be used if desired.

Other similar cases may, of course, be used in connection with the typeof supporting arrangement embodied in the present inventions. Such itemscould include camera cases, camera accessory equipment bags, cases forbinoculars, and many other personal items adapted to be carried in acase attached to the body of the carrier.

It is to be understood that, in accordance with the provisions of thepatent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific devicesherein shown and described may be made Without departing from the spiritof the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A carrying case which may be carried on the body by a suspensionmember, comprising an open-ended body portion for receiving articles tobe carried therein, a cover having a rearward end attached to said bodyportion and a forward end, said cover having an unfolded upwardlyextending open position and a folded closed position wherein said coverextends across the open end of said body portion, and a strap extendingbetween the forward end and the rearward end of said cover and havingsimilar unfolded and folded positions, said strap having slots extendingsubstantially vertical at its outside and said cover having fastenersextending through the slots, said suspension member being slidablyreceived between said strap and said cover, whereby said suspensionmember supports said case from the rearward end of said cover when saidcover is closed to provide a high secure position and from the forwardend of said cover when said cover is open to provide a low-slungposition.

2. In combination, a suspension member which may be worn on the body forcarrying a holster, and a hand-gun holster comprising an open-ended,hand-gun-receiving body portion, a cover flap having a rearward endattached to said body portion and a forward end, said cover flap havingan unfolded upwardly extending open position and a folded close-dposition wherein said cover flap extends across the open end of saidbody portion, and a strap extending between the forward end and therearward end of said cover flap and having similar unfolded and foldedpositions, said strap having slots extending substantially vertical atits outside and said cover flap having fasteners extending through theslots, said suspension member being slidably received between said strapand said cover flap whereby said suspension member supports said holsterfrom the rearward end of said cover flap when said cover flap is closedto provide a high secure position and from the forward end of said coverflap when said cover flap is open to provide a low-slung position.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said suspension member isa waist belt.

4. A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said suspension member isa shoulder harness.

5. In combination, a hand-gun bolster which may be carried on the bodyby a suspension member, comprising an open-ended, hand-gun-receivingbody portion, a cover flap having a rearward end attached to said bodyportion and a forward end, said cover flap having an upwardly extendingopen position and a closed position wherein said cover flap extendsacross the open end of said body portion, and a strap extending betweenthe forward end and the rearward end of said cover flap, said suspensionmember being slidably received between said strap and said cover flapwhereby said suspension member supports said holster from the rearwardend of said cover flap when said cover flap is closed to provide a highsecure position and from the forward end of said cover flap when saidcover flap is open .to provide a slow-slung position, and a retractablespring loaded tension reel member mounted on the bottom of said bodyportion and having a flexible line therein adapted to be looped around aleg of the holster wearer to secure said holster to the body when in itslow-slung position.

6. A carrying case in accordance with claim 1 wherein the body portionis adapted to receive a hand gun.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,113,796 12/1963Neil 224-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 107,318 3/1943 Sweden.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

J. E. OLDS, Assistant Examiner.

5. IN COMBINATION, A HAND-GUN BOLSTER WHICH MAY BE CARRIED ON THE BODYBY A SUSPENSION MEMBER, COMPRISING AN OPEN-ENDED, HAND-GUN-RECEIVINGBODY PORTION, A COVER FLAP HAVING A REARWARD END ATTACHED TO SAID BODYPORTION AND A FORWARD END, SAID COVER FLAP HAVING AN UPWARDLY EXTENDINGOPEN POSITION AND A CLOSED POSITION WHEREIN SAID COVER FLAP EXTENDSACROSS THE OPEN END OF SAID BODY PORTION, AND A STRAP EXTENDING BETWEENTHE FORWARD END AND THE REARWARD END OF SAID COVER FLAP, SAID SUSPENSIONMEMBER BEING SLIDABLY RECEIVED BETWEEN SAID STRAP AND SAID COVER FLAPWHEREBY SAID SUSPENSION MEMBER SUPPORTS SAID HOLSTER FROM THE REARWARDEND OF SAID COVER FLAP WHEN SAID COVER FLAP IS CLOSED TO PROVIDE A HIGHSECURE POSITION AND FROM THE FORWARD END OF SAID COVER FLAP WHEN SAIDCOVER FLAP IS OPEN TO PROVIDE A SLOW-SLUNG POSITION, AND A RETRACTABLESPRING LOADED TENSION REEL MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID BODYPORTION AND HAVING A FLEXIBLE LINE THEREIN ADAPTED TO BE LOOPED AROUND ALEG OF THE HOLSTER WEARER TO SECURE SAID HOLSTER TO THE BODY WHEN IN ITSLOW-SLUNG POSITION.